Baja: From the Pacific to the Sea of Cortez

Trip Level

Easy to moderate

More active trips involving hiking over moderate terrain, usually - but not always - with vehicle support and at elevations less than 10,000 feet, or trips with long hiking days, multiple sea kayaking days, wilderness camping, or other invigorating activity. On many trips, you can elect to skip a day's activity, depending on logistics. Includes more demanding sea kayaking trips and river rafting trips with Class III rapids.

From $3,295

Travel with the best local specialists on an unparalleled adventure spanning two oceans and the mountain range that divides them—kayak, hike, surf, snorkel, and more!

See abundant marine life in the Sea of Cortez, dubbed “the “aquarium of the world” by Jacques Cousteau, and swim with sea lion pups at Los Islotes

A great trip for families or groups of friends

Just a short plane ride (but a whole world) away, our Baja trip is the perfect getaway for families or groups of friends. Traveling with the best local specialists, you’ll explore two oceans and the unspoiled mountain range that divides them. Hike in the biosphere reserve of the Sierra de la Laguna with naturalist guides, and discover unique, endemic plant and animal life. Then, surf some of Baja’s best breaks (suitable for beginners and guided by the region’s finest instructors), and snorkel and kayak in the Sea of Cortez, dubbed the “aquarium of the world” by Jacques Cousteau for its diversity of marine life. You’ll have the unforgettable experience of swimming with sea lion pups at Los Islotes, and horseback riding along 70 miles of pristine beach at sunset. You’ll learn the secrets of Baja cuisine from a local chef, and ponder Aztec, Mayan and Greek mythology while stargazing with a local astronomer. It’s an altogether uncommon, intimate and fun-filled México experience—and it’s only from MTS.

Upon arrival at San Jose del Cabo, your guide will be waiting to meet you. Then we’ll head out for the 90-minute drive to Todos Santos. The magical drive across the southernmost tip of Baja California Sur will give us a taste of a landscape that will grow familiar in the week ahead—rolling hills and coastal plains that look down onto wild Pacific beaches, rustic fences bounding ambling ranches, dry arroyos with flowering cacti, bougainvillea, and thorn bushes—through astonishing flurries of butterflies along the two-lane highway. We arrive in Todos Santos, the real gem of Baja for those looking beyond the grand resort experience of Cabo. After taking in our first impressions of this fascinating village, we’ll move into serene rooms with fantastic ocean views at the Los Colibris Casitas, where we can gaze onto the ocean, freshwater estuaries, and the Sierra de la Laguna range from our own seaside oasis. We’ll have a welcome dinner followed by a short briefing.

Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 2: Transfer to La Paz for Sea Kayaking

Morning transfer to Espiritu Santo Island. Upon arrival at La Paz, we’ll travel by boat from the harbor across the channel separating the peninsula from Espiritu Santo Island, and arrive at our camp this afternoon. (The ride from La Paz takes between one and two hours, depending on the weather.) Our kayaks and camp await us on shore, and the guides give everyone a thorough briefing on camp life and kayak safety before we embark on our first paddle beneath spectacular volcanic cliffs and arrive at the first of many beautiful beaches to set up camp.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Camp

Days 3-4: Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

Kayak along the shoreline, exploring a new section of coastline with small offshore islands where numerous birds nest. Camp on a new beach every night.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Camp

Day 5: Swimming with the Sea Lions

Today we’ll take a motor boat to the famous sea lion colony of Los Islotes at Isla Espiritu Santo. The sea lions love this opportunity to jump in the water and go people watching! It is an incredible life experience to snorkel and play with the sea lion pups, who love to nibble your flippers and entice you to swim in loops with them. We’ll lunch on a beautiful beach of Isla Espiritu Santo, a protected nature reserve. We’ll pack and return to shore and continue to Todos Santos, where we’ll end the day at a great local restaurant.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 6: Surfing

In the mid 80s a few dedicated surfers found their way up from Cabo in search of waves, and thirty years later Todos Santos still boasts some of the best surf breaks in Baja. Today, surf’s up as we each give it a try—our experienced instructors guarantee that you’ll ride the waves, at least for a moment! If board surfing is not your style never fear! Stand-up paddle boarding is also an option. We’ll have boogie boards available and there’s a great place for body surfing too. After working up an appetite, we'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the beach. In the evening, we’ll experience the landscape surrounding Todos Santos in yet another way—an idyllic horseback ride at sunset! The 70 miles of undeveloped beaches are even more accessible on horseback, and we’ll grow more familiar with the bird life and tropical desert terrain with the help of our expert guides. And tonight, a local chef gives us a hands-on lesson on the best of Baja cuisine.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 7: Rock Art Painting Walk - Stars & Champagne

After a free morning to relax, we’ll go to visit the rock art of the Guaycura tribes. The indigenous culture that persisted for possibly 1,000 years is now long gone, but evidence that these tribes once lived and thrived is all around Baja California Sur. A local anthropologist has spent the last four years creating a soon-to-be-published photographic journal of pictographs and murals made by these now-extinct people around BCS, and in this walk he’ll share with us one of his favorite sites that is still not open to the general public. We’ll then have a beautiful evening of champagne-sipping and star-gazing with a local astronomer, where we'll trace Aztec, Mayan and Greek mythologies while exploring the skies. We'll follow this up with dinner at Landis that serves terrific home-style Mexican cuisine in a lovely garden setting.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 8: Cliff Walk and Beach Picnic

We'll wrap up this great Baja adventure with a hike along the magnificent Pacific bluffs of Todos Santos. This walk features glorious scenery, fascinating local history and encounters with strange and wonderful flora and fauna - during many months of the year you'll see whales! The hike ends at an idyllic, palm-lined beach where a delicious picnic lunch will be waiting for you. The afternoon is then free for shopping , getting a massage, or just relaxing around the pool. Local artist and sculptor Michael Cope then will prepare a scrumptious farewell dinner for you in his beautiful sculpture garden. It's a fabulous finish to this great adventure.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 9: Fly Home

Morning transfer to San Jose del Cabo and depart on homeward-bound flights.

Los Colibris Casitas was made for nature lovers seeking beauty and tranquility. Each of its casas and casitas has a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, a freshwater estuary, and a palm grove oasis to the front, and the Sierra de la Laguna mountains to the side and back. From your casa you can watch the fishermen cast their nets on the beach in the early morning light, wait for the green flash of a magnificent Baja sunset in the late afternoon, and enjoy the vast expanse of a star-filled sky at night. Boogie boards and mountain bikes available for guest use.

Travel with the best local specialists on an unparalleled adventure spanning two oceans and the mountain range that divides them—kayak, hike, surf, snorkel, and more!

See abundant marine life in the Sea of Cortez, dubbed “the “aquarium of the world” by Jacques Cousteau, and swim with sea lion pups at Los Islotes

A great trip for families or groups of friends

Just a short plane ride (but a whole world) away, our Baja trip is the perfect getaway for families or groups of friends. Traveling with the best local specialists, you’ll explore two oceans and the unspoiled mountain range that divides them. Hike in the biosphere reserve of the Sierra de la Laguna with naturalist guides, and discover unique, endemic plant and animal life. Then, surf some of Baja’s best breaks (suitable for beginners and guided by the region’s finest instructors), and snorkel and kayak in the Sea of Cortez, dubbed the “aquarium of the world” by Jacques Cousteau for its diversity of marine life. You’ll have the unforgettable experience of swimming with sea lion pups at Los Islotes, and horseback riding along 70 miles of pristine beach at sunset. You’ll learn the secrets of Baja cuisine from a local chef, and ponder Aztec, Mayan and Greek mythology while stargazing with a local astronomer. It’s an altogether uncommon, intimate and fun-filled México experience—and it’s only from MTS.

Upon arrival at San Jose del Cabo, your guide will be waiting to meet you. Then we’ll head out for the 90-minute drive to Todos Santos. The magical drive across the southernmost tip of Baja California Sur will give us a taste of a landscape that will grow familiar in the week ahead—rolling hills and coastal plains that look down onto wild Pacific beaches, rustic fences bounding ambling ranches, dry arroyos with flowering cacti, bougainvillea, and thorn bushes—through astonishing flurries of butterflies along the two-lane highway. We arrive in Todos Santos, the real gem of Baja for those looking beyond the grand resort experience of Cabo. After taking in our first impressions of this fascinating village, we’ll move into serene rooms with fantastic ocean views at the Los Colibris Casitas, where we can gaze onto the ocean, freshwater estuaries, and the Sierra de la Laguna range from our own seaside oasis. We’ll have a welcome dinner followed by a short briefing.

Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 2: Transfer to La Paz for Sea Kayaking

Morning transfer to Espiritu Santo Island. Upon arrival at La Paz, we’ll travel by boat from the harbor across the channel separating the peninsula from Espiritu Santo Island, and arrive at our camp this afternoon. (The ride from La Paz takes between one and two hours, depending on the weather.) Our kayaks and camp await us on shore, and the guides give everyone a thorough briefing on camp life and kayak safety before we embark on our first paddle beneath spectacular volcanic cliffs and arrive at the first of many beautiful beaches to set up camp.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Camp

Days 3-4: Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

Kayak along the shoreline, exploring a new section of coastline with small offshore islands where numerous birds nest. Camp on a new beach every night.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Camp

Day 5: Swimming with the Sea Lions

Today we’ll take a motor boat to the famous sea lion colony of Los Islotes at Isla Espiritu Santo. The sea lions love this opportunity to jump in the water and go people watching! It is an incredible life experience to snorkel and play with the sea lion pups, who love to nibble your flippers and entice you to swim in loops with them. We’ll lunch on a beautiful beach of Isla Espiritu Santo, a protected nature reserve. We’ll pack and return to shore and continue to Todos Santos, where we’ll end the day at a great local restaurant.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 6: Surfing

In the mid 80s a few dedicated surfers found their way up from Cabo in search of waves, and thirty years later Todos Santos still boasts some of the best surf breaks in Baja. Today, surf’s up as we each give it a try—our experienced instructors guarantee that you’ll ride the waves, at least for a moment! If board surfing is not your style never fear! Stand-up paddle boarding is also an option. We’ll have boogie boards available and there’s a great place for body surfing too. After working up an appetite, we'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the beach. In the evening, we’ll experience the landscape surrounding Todos Santos in yet another way—an idyllic horseback ride at sunset! The 70 miles of undeveloped beaches are even more accessible on horseback, and we’ll grow more familiar with the bird life and tropical desert terrain with the help of our expert guides. And tonight, a local chef gives us a hands-on lesson on the best of Baja cuisine.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 7: Rock Art Painting Walk - Stars & Champagne

After a free morning to relax, we’ll go to visit the rock art of the Guaycura tribes. The indigenous culture that persisted for possibly 1,000 years is now long gone, but evidence that these tribes once lived and thrived is all around Baja California Sur. A local anthropologist has spent the last four years creating a soon-to-be-published photographic journal of pictographs and murals made by these now-extinct people around BCS, and in this walk he’ll share with us one of his favorite sites that is still not open to the general public. We’ll then have a beautiful evening of champagne-sipping and star-gazing with a local astronomer, where we'll trace Aztec, Mayan and Greek mythologies while exploring the skies. We'll follow this up with dinner at Landis that serves terrific home-style Mexican cuisine in a lovely garden setting.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 8: Cliff Walk and Beach Picnic

We'll wrap up this great Baja adventure with a hike along the magnificent Pacific bluffs of Todos Santos. This walk features glorious scenery, fascinating local history and encounters with strange and wonderful flora and fauna - during many months of the year you'll see whales! The hike ends at an idyllic, palm-lined beach where a delicious picnic lunch will be waiting for you. The afternoon is then free for shopping , getting a massage, or just relaxing around the pool. Local artist and sculptor Michael Cope then will prepare a scrumptious farewell dinner for you in his beautiful sculpture garden. It's a fabulous finish to this great adventure.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accomodation:Los Colibris Casitas

Day 9: Fly Home

Morning transfer to San Jose del Cabo and depart on homeward-bound flights.

Los Colibris Casitas was made for nature lovers seeking beauty and tranquility. Each of its casas and casitas has a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, a freshwater estuary, and a palm grove oasis to the front, and the Sierra de la Laguna mountains to the side and back. From your casa you can watch the fishermen cast their nets on the beach in the early morning light, wait for the green flash of a magnificent Baja sunset in the late afternoon, and enjoy the vast expanse of a star-filled sky at night. Boogie boards and mountain bikes available for guest use.

Easy

Many activities are optional and involve fairly easy travel. Trips may include short hikes of two to three hours or optional walks at low elevations. Includes less demanding sea kayaking and river rafting trips with Class I-II rapids.

Moderate

More active trips involving hiking over moderate terrain, usually - but not always - with vehicle support and at elevations less than 10,000 feet, or trips with long hiking days, multiple sea kayaking days, wilderness camping, or other invigorating activity. On many trips, you can elect to skip a day's activity, depending on logistics. Includes more demanding sea kayaking trips and river rafting trips with Class III rapids.

Strenuous

Hiking and trekking over steeper or more rugged terrain or where elevations may exceed 10,000 feet - often several days in a row. Includes more demanding sea kayaking trips (4-5 hours paddling a day) and river rafting trips with Class IV-V rapids.